Public health is a science dedicated to protecting and improving the health of populations through disease prevention, promoting healthy behaviors and creating supportive environments. It spans a broad range of responsibilities, from disease surveillance and health education to policy development and environmental health oversight. At the heart of this work lies a commitment to health equity — ensuring every person has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, regardless of race, income or zip code.
The online Master of Public Health (MPH) program from William Paterson University (WP) prepares graduates to lead this vital work. With a CEPH-accredited curriculum grounded in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health policy, environmental and occupational health, and community engagement, WP’s online MPH program equips professionals with the expertise needed to address the social, environmental and behavioral factors that drive health disparities at local, national and global levels.
What Is Health Equity?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes health equity as ensuring everyone has a fair chance to achieve optimal health — a goal that requires addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), the non-medical factors that shape health outcomes. SDOH encompasses the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, as well as broader systems such as economic policies, social norms, racism and access to resources that shape daily life.
Gaps in these areas produce measurable health disparities. Research from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) finds that persistent disparities in health and healthcare across the United States show up in differences in life expectancy, disease rates and severity, access to prevention and treatment, and avoidable illness and premature death. Health equity is not the same as health equality — rather than providing everyone with identical resources, it focuses on delivering targeted support based on each person’s unique needs and circumstances.
How Is Health Equity Measured?
Measuring health equity requires assessing health disparities — the differences in health outcomes and access to services among population groups. Key indicators include life expectancy, infant mortality rates, prevalence of chronic disease and access to preventive services, along with SDOH factors such as income, education and employment status. These measures help public health professionals identify where gaps exist and develop the interventions and policies needed to close them.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) identifies four pillars of effective equity measurement: selecting applicable SDOH indicators, choosing an independent reference group, identifying the right healthcare quality metrics and comparing results to national estimates. Tracking this data consistently over time is essential to maintaining accountability and guiding policy changes that reduce health inequities and improve population health outcomes.
Through its Healthy People 2030 initiative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) outlines five key SDOH domains: economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. By targeting each domain, public health professionals can drive the systemic changes required for health equity.
Advancing Health Equity Through Public Health Leadership
Achieving health equity demands more than data; it requires transformative leadership. The American Public Health Association (APHA) notes that public health leadership has shifted toward systems-based thinking, collaborative cultures and transdisciplinary approaches to better address health disparities. Traditional top-down models are giving way to inclusive, team-based strategies that prioritize community engagement and cultural humility.
MPH graduates play a central role in driving this change through policy advocacy, community-based programs and cross-sector partnerships. Working alongside communities, health departments and organizations, they help dismantle the structural barriers that prevent marginalized populations from achieving their best health. William Paterson University’s online MPH curriculum reflects this commitment, preparing graduates to lead meaningful change in the communities they serve through coursework covering equity, public health advocacy, leadership, justice in public health and community engagement.
What Can You Do With a Master of Public Health Degree?
An MPH opens doors to careers across public, private and nonprofit sectors. Graduates of William Paterson University’s online Master of Public Health program qualify for a wide range of impactful roles including epidemiologist, health education specialist, public health program manager, health policy advocate and community prevention specialist. These professionals typically work in government agencies, hospitals and health systems, research institutions, nonprofit organizations or global health agencies.
The career outlook is strong. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 23% employment growth for medical and health services managers through 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations — with approximately 62,100 openings each year. The median annual wage for this role reached $117,960 in May 2024. For those committed to advancing health equity, the demand for skilled public health leaders continues to grow across sectors.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online Master of Public Health program.
About William Paterson University’s Online Master of Public Health Program
William Paterson University’s online MPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the nationally recognized accrediting body for schools and programs of public health, affirming that graduates are prepared to contribute effectively to today’s public health workforce. Designed for working professionals looking to gain in-demand skills and credentials on a flexible schedule, the 42-credit-hour program offers the convenience of six start dates per year, pay-by-the-course tuition and a fully online format delivered in accelerated, seven-week terms. No GRE is required for admission and all fees are included in the program’s per-credit tuition.
The curriculum covers the five core public health competency areas while placing a strong emphasis on health equity, social justice, environmental and occupational health, and community engagement. Graduates are prepared to address social determinants of health, design evidence-based interventions and lead initiatives that improve health outcomes for diverse populations at local, national and global levels.
